Gritz Article Archives
Through A Crooked Sun: The Rich Robinson Interview
Through A Crooked Sun The Rich Robinson Interview By James Calemine read more...
The Heart of Molly Hatchet: An Interview with Bobby Ingram
by Michael Buffalo Smith
Barry Lee Harwood 2010
By Michael Buffalo Smith Editors Note: Be sure to download our FREE GRITZ Sampler CD for June that includes a track from Barry Lee Harwood as well as a track from Mainstream South!
Chuck Glass Interview: The Outlaws
Hank Hart heads up a fan page on Facebook for The Outlaws. He kindly offered us a recent interview he conducted with former Outlaws member Chuck Glass. Bear in mind that this read more...
Swampdawamp's Gig Michaels
by Michael Buffalo Smith One of the absolute hottest and fastest rising Southern Rock bands of today hails from Charlotte, NC and go by the name Swampdawamp. The band are true pros, and have built a huge grass roots following. So huge, as a matter of fact, that their read more...
Devon Allman: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Devon Allman is bearing his soul at last. After years of running from his heritage, he is happy and healthy and proud to be the son of Southern Rock legend Gregg Allman. It might not read more...
Lee Bogan: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Lee Bogan is one of my favorite songwriters. The hard working Nashville based writer, singer and guitarist has worked with everyone from Joe Diffie to Billy Joe Royal to Dr. read more...
Singer/Songwriter Amanda Martin: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith I first met Amanda Martin when we did a gig together at The High Lonesome Saloon in Rome, Georgia. I was immediately read more...
This Country's Rockin'! The Candy Coburn Interview
By Michael Buffalo Smith I met Candy Coburn and her manager in the lobby of the Music Row Best Western in downtown Nashville. The night before I had attended
Rick Cash of Silver Travis: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Spartanburg, South Carolina has given us some great music over the years, from jazz great Hank Garland to
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith It's an exciting time to be a Boxmaster. The band has a new double disc CD out called Modbilly and another one ready to roll called Bellflower. They are read more...
Pete Kowalke of Cowboy: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Pete Kowalke is one of the founding members of Cowboy, the country rock flavored band who were among the earliest and best of the Southern Rockers to come out read more...
Eric Quincy Tate's Dave Cantonwine: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith Eric Quincy Tate was one of the greatest Southern Rock bands of all time, but they just never got the recognition they so richly deserved. The Texas based band was compared by many to fellow
Mike Mattison: The Gritz Interview
by Derek Halsey As the Derek Trucks Band (DTB) walked out to perform in Cincinnati, Ohio, this past February, there is a chair unexpectedly sitting on the front of the stage. Derek Trucks, the former read more...
Tom Wynn of Cowboy: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith One of my very favorite bands to come out of the Capricorn Records era was the band called Cowboy, a group that originated a sound that other bands like The Eagles and Poco would later utilize. Scott Boyer, Tommy Talton and the band recorded read more...
Spooner Oldham: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith As a songwriter, Muscle Shoals’ Spooner Oldham wrote or co-wrote (often with Dan Penn) classic songs like “I’m Your Puppet” (James and Bobby Purify); “Cry Like a Baby” (The Box Tops); “A Woman Left read more...
Butch Trucks of The Allman Brothers Band: The Gritz Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith There's major excitement in the air surrounding The Allman Brothers Band camp this week. Monday will find them starting out on their read more...
Rossington Collins Band Drummer Derek Hess: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith February, 2009 Derek Hess is one of the true “unsung heroes” of Southern Rock. He was smack-dab in the middle of the whole Jacksonville scene during the glory days of the seventies, and after the
Mark Kemp: The Gritz Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith I grew up during the turbulent 1960’s and ‘70’s in Spartanburg, South Carolina, waist deep in the music that would become the very soundtrack of my life, while not so secretly dreaming of becoming a rock star. My life was filled read more...
Brad Schnabel: All Southern Rock All The Time On Internet Radio Station
by Michael Buffalo Smith The kingpin behind the premier online Southern Rock radio station known as allsouthernrock.com is Brad Schnabel, a die hard Southern Rock fan from Mesquite, Texas. Brad started the All Southern Rock radio station and chat room over five years read more...
Bo Bice: Southern Rock Forever! The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith When Bo Bice won runner up (to Carrie Underwood) in the 2005 American Idol competition, it was just the beginning of a rise to stardom for the Alabama born Southern Rocker. Following his Clive Davis produced debut of 2005, Bo is back with read more...
Henry Paul On The Outlaws, Blackhawk, and a Lifetime of Great Music
by Michael Buffalo Smith He was a member of the legendary Southern Rock band The Outlaws, He also scored big with his own Henry Paul Band, and as a member of Top 40 country band read more...
Funky Donnie Fritts: The GRITZ Interview
by Eric Gebhardt There is a unique blend of southern R&B, soul, and blues that is known the world over. Closely related to the sounds of Stax Records and folks like Rufus Thomas, read more...
Elvin Bishop: The GRITZ Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith "Elvin Bisop's sittin' on a bale of hay He ain't good lookin' but he sure can play." - Charlie Daniels
Randall Bramblett Interview 2008
by Michael Buffalo Smith Randall Bramblett has a hot new album out this month on New West records, (Now It’s Tomorrow) but this ain’t his first rodeo. Bramblett has been read more...
The Bonnie Bramlett Interview 2008
by Michael Buffalo Smith Bonnie Bramlett is the true Queen of Southern Rock. A true soul singer if ever there was one, Bonnie has performed and recorded with the best of the best, not read more...
Marshall Tucker: The Next Generation: An Interview with Justin McCorkle
by Michael Buffalo Smith We’ve all heard the old saying, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” No where does that old chestnut hold more true than in the case of Justin McCorkle. Justin was born the only son of
Billy Bob Thornton Talks About The New Boxmasters Album
by Michael Buffalo Smith Billy Bob Thornton is the new Lon Chaney. The new “man of a thousand faces.” And I’m not just talking about his movies. His music has shown read more...
The Delaney Bramlett Interviews 2008 (Part Two) Duane, Janis and Eric
The Delaney Bramlett Interviews: Part Two Read Part One Here by Michael Buffalo Smith Tell me about the time Jimi Hendrix played in read more...
The Delaney Bramlett Interviews 2008 (Part One)
by Michael Buffalo Smith Delaney Bramlett was born on July 1, 1939, in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. His mother taught him the guitar, and he moved out to Los Angeles in 1959 where he became a read more...
Chris Hicks: Walking With The Dinosaurs
by Michael Buffalo Smith Chris Hicks is a force to be reckoned with. A Macon, Georgia native, he grew up in the shadows of giants during the hey day of Capricorn Records, listening to read more...
Steve Grisham and Ghost Riders
As One Grits to Another... by Michael Buffalo Smith Steve Grisham is a Southern Rock road dog. A man with the Southern Rock running through his very veins. A Florida singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer, Grisham, also known as read more...
Patterson Hood and The Drive By Truckers
by Michael Buffalo Smith Patterson Hood grew up in Florence Alabama, across the Tennessee River from Muscle Shoals. Patterson began writing songs when he was in third grade and began playing guitar in bands at about 14. His father is David Hood of the legendary Muscle read more...
The Galloway & Kelliher Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith I met Mike Galloway and Timmy Kelliher, along with drummer Juan Perex, last November at The Jam 4 George in Spartanburg, SC. My friend Mark Emerick (Commander Cody Band guitarist and a read more...
John Carter Cash: Johnny and June's Son Talks About His Parents
by Michael Buffalo Smith John Carter Cash is one busy man. As the only son of country music legends Johnny Cash and
Scott Boyer On Cowboy, The Decoys and a Lifetime of Southern Music
by Michael Buffalo Smith We met up with Scott Boyer at his home in Killen, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals. His puppy dog Rusty was running around playing and having a high old time, while Scott sat behind a keyboard in his home studio to open up about Cowboy, The Decoys read more...
Billy Bob Thornton On Touring, Acting and Southern Rocking
by Michael Buffalo Smith Billy Bob Thornton is one busy cat these days. Besides the recent premier of Mr. read more...
Tom Coerver: On Louisiana, China Sky and Hurricane Katrina
BACKWATER TALES FROM A GREAT SOUTHERN MUSICIAN by Michael Buffalo Smith Tom Coerver is a musician's musician. A good ol' Louisiana boy who has an inate ability to play just about any musical instrument he can get his hands on, including a
Chris Cagle: The GRITZ Interview
Country Star Chris Cagle – The Long, Hard Road To Making It In Nashville By Derek Halsey “What’s funny is, every year I’d go, ‘Is this over? Do they even know me? Is it going to read more...
Tommy Talton and the Cowboy Reunion
by Michael Buffalo Smith One of Capricorn Records' finest bands during the 1970's was Cowboy, an outstanding country-rock band headed up by Tommy Talton and Scott Boyer. During the past few read more...
Montgomery Gentry
by Michael Buffalo Smith March, 2007 I’ve been fortunate enough to see Montgomery Gentry perform several times, including a handful of impromptu gigs during the annual Angelus benefit down in Tampa, Florida. During the four read more...
Doug Gray
Everything Old is New Again: The Marshall Tucker Band Release Tommy Caldwell's Final Performance by Michael Buffalo Smith January, 2007 The Marshall read more...
John Hammond
by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2007 After three decades, John Hammond proves he's still a vital performer in American music. One of the very few white blues musicians performing at the beginning of the first blues renaissance of the mid-'60s, he found read more...
Vince Gill
VINCE GILL - FINALLY DOING IT HIS WAY “There was no skin involved. I didn’t drop my pants, but they got the message. I flipped them off and the police all gave me a standing O. It was really surreal. It was like a scene from Spinal read more...
Seminole County
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2006
Kinky Friedman
"I won't be bullied and I can't be bought." PUSHING THE MIDDLE FINGER VOTE AND A NEW CD by Derek Halsey November 2006
Ken Block of Sister Hazel
A Band With A Mission by Sonny Edwards November 2006 Sister Hazel rocks! They Rock Boats, they Rock Slopes, and they are read more...
David Allan Coe 2006
OUTLAW UPDATE: COE TALKS ABOUT REBEL MEETS REBEL and THE COE SHOW by Michael Buffalo Smith The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy himself, David Allan Coe, continues to build on his own mythology with the read more...
John Cowan
JOHN COWAN: NEWGRASS, OLD GRASS, BORROWED GRASS, BLUEGRASS By Barry Barnes (Edited by Derek Halsey) September 2006 John Cowan is a major player in the world of bluegrass music. From his days with New Grass Revival in read more...
Artimus Pyle 2006
ARTIMUS SPITS HIS VENOM AND RECOILS AN INTERVIEW WITH SKYNYRD ICON ARTIMUS PYLE by Michael Buffalo Smith September, 2006 Legendary Southern rock drummer and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame read more...
Joe Bob Briggs
KING OF THE B-MOVIES, CHAMPION OF THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER, ACTOR, AUTHOR AND COMEDIAN JOE BOB BRIGGS by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2006 My first exposure to John Bloom aka: Joe Bob Briggs came read more...
Jimmy Palumbo
FROM FRIENDS TO THE BEER LEAGUE A CHAT ABOUT MOVIES, TV AND SOUTHERN ROCK by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2006
Jim Van Cleve
Jim Van Cleve Taking Bluegrass Music In His Own Direction By Derek Halsey July 2006 Still in his 20’s, Jim VanCleve is a young fiddler that is what bluegrass radio show host Wayne Clyburn would read more...
Claire Lynch
ONE NEW DAY AT A TIME Claire Lynch Has Something For Everyone By Sonny Edwards July 2006 To the careful observer, there are all manner of days. No one can count them all, but they include, in part, read more...
Bryan Sutton
BRYAN SUTTON: A Great Guitarist Digs Deep With The Legends By Derek Halsey July 2006 Bryan Sutton’s resume speaks for itself. He came out of a musically inclined family in North Carolina with the intent of becoming a read more...
Bruce Brookshire (Doc Holliday)
DOC HOLLIDAY AT TWENTY - FIVE AN INTERVIEW WITH FOUNDING MEMBER BRUCE BROOKSHIRE by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2006 One of the South's finest bands, Doc Holliday this year celebrates their 25th read more...
Mac Arnold
BLUES COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: MAC ARNOLD by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2006 South Carolina bluesman Mac Arnold knows the blues. The one time bass player for Muddy Waters, Arnold has played and sung the read more...
Duane Roland
Duane Roland: The Last Interview by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2006 When Duane Roland died at the age of 53 on June 19th, 2006, he was right in the middle of a major comeback as a member of Gator Country, reuniting him read more...
Billy Bob Thornton
The Wit and Wisdom of Actor, Director, Writer, Musician and Southern Rock Fan by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2006 I have been a fan of Billy Bob for years. I vaguely recall his acting in the old Burt Reynolds TV read more...
Cowboy Jack Clement
COWBOY JACK CLEMENT CASH, PRIDE, SUN and POLKA by Michael Buffalo Smith May, 2006 Cowboy Jack Clement is a true Nashville legend if ever there was one. From his days working at Sun Studios, to writing hit songs for read more...
Derek Trucks
DEREK TRUCKS The Time of His Life by Derek Halsey May 2006 There are times in a lucky musician’s life when good things happen, one right after another. I use the word ‘lucky’ because there are far more read more...
Luther Dickinson 2006
Luther Dickinson Of The North Mississippi Allstars By Derek Halsey May 2006 The self-described ‘world boogie’ sounds of the North Mississippi Allstars have been flowing out of this trio for ten read more...
Danielle Howle
A HOOTIE NEW ALBUM : DANIELLE HOWLE ROCKS by Michael Buffalo Smith May 2006 Danielle Howle is an amazing performer. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, she first rose to prominence as a member of the rock band read more...
Hank Williams III
THE NEXT GENERATION OF A COUNTRY LEGACY by Michael Buffalo Smith April, 2006 Hank Williams the third, better known as "Hank III," embodies a lot of the same restless, wandering spirit, rebel read more...
Marshall Chapman 2006
CALL THE LLAMAS...EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TALL GIRL, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK by Michael Buffalo Smith April, 2006 During the seven years that GRITZ Magazine has been in cyberspace, read more...
Buddy Miles
MILES OF MUSIC by Michael Buffalo Smith February, 2006 Buddy Miles career spans over 49 years including 70 albums, six World tours, television specials, charity events, TV commercials and music videos. read more...
ZZ Top
ZZ TOP FOREVER by Russell Hall December 2005 ZZ Top’s run of thirty-five years with the same lineup is, in some ways, the rock and roll equivalent of Joe read more...
Blackfoot
BLACKFOOT ON THE REUNION By Michael Buffalo Smith December 2005 In one of the best surprises of recent Southern Rock history, the hard rocking, take no prisoners band Blackfoot has reunited read more...
Sonny Landreth
SONNY LANDRETH by Derek Halsey December 2005 Sonny Landreth has honed his slide guitar playing skills for 41 of his 54 years on Earth, and along the read more...
Bobby Bare
THE BARE ESSENTIALS: BOBBY BARE IS BACK by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2005 In the late '50s, he moved from Ohio to Los Angeles. Bare's first appearance on record was in 1958, as he recorded his own blues tune "The All read more...
Delbert McClinton
DELBERT McCLINTON KEEPS IT REAL by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2005 Delbert McClinton’s formative years were spent as a member of The Straitjackets, the house band at a blues/rhythm and blues club on the outskirts of read more...
The Fiddleworms
AS THE WORMS TURN GETTIN' DOWN AND DIGGIN' IN WITH THE Fiddleworms by Sonny Edwards (Photos by Dick Cooper) November 2005 Have you ever had a favorite cup or a beautiful vase or read more...
Michael Doucet (BeauSoleil)
BeauSoleil’s Michael Doucet Talks Of Hurricanes And Louisiana Music by Derek Halsey November 2005 BeauSoleil has been one of the premier bands to come out of Louisiana since its inception in 1975. Hailing from read more...
Shooter Jennings
Ol’ Shooter : Are you ready for the country? Are you ready for him? November 2005 by Michael Buffalo Smith At the age of 25, Shooter Jennings, the only son of legendary country music icon Waylon Jennings read more...
Al Kooper
AL KOOPER Black Coffee and Some Lynyrd Skynyrd, Please by Michael Buffalo Smith October, 2005 No introduction is necessary. If you listen to rock and pop music, you know who Al Kooper is. For those of us entangled in the world read more...
Jerry Reed
WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT An Interview with Country Superstar/Actor Jerry Reed by Michael Buffalo Smith September, 2005 Jerry Reed is a true star. From his string of hit read more...
The Paul Thorn Interview
by Michael Buffalo Smith (Originally appeared in GRITZ print magazine issue #11, Summer 2005) Paul Thorn is one of a kind. A good ol’ Southern boy who was raised in Elvis’ home town of Tupelo, Mississippi, Thorn has a mighty voice read more...
Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin--Mr. Good N’ Country, the King Of Bluegrass By Derek Halsey June 2005 Jimmy Martin died on May 14, 2005 of bladder cancer at the age of 77. Almost a year before that he was kind enough to have granted us read more...
Hughie Thomasson
HUGHIE THOMASSON REFORMS THE OUTLAWS by William Turley Spring 2005 THIS PAGE DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF "WILD BILL" TURLEY, ENTERED INTO ETERNAL REST, SEPTEMBER 2005. A TRUE OUTLAWS AND SOUTHER ROCK FAN, AND A HELLUVA read more...
Tony Joe White
TONY JOE WHITE: THE SWAMP FOX by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2004 Tony Joe White is an American treasure. In 1969, Tony Joe came bursting out of the read more...
JJ Cale
By Derek Halsey October 2004 J.J. Cale is one of the most famous songwriters in history, yet he can walk down the street and not be recognized by anyone. Eric Clapton was asked in an interview not long ago read more...
Floyd Miles
By Michael Buffalo Smith October 2004 The pride of Daytona Beach, Florida, Floyd Miles is a world class blues and r&b singer who grew up friends with Duane and Gregg Allman, recorded with everyone from Dickey Betts to Edgar Winter, and now divides read more...
Lee Roy Parnell
LEE ROY PARNELL GUITARS, SLIDES AND THE BLUES by Michael RedTail Wolf Nystrom July 2004 I know you're a native Texan, but I don't know what town you were born in. Abilene, Texas and I grew up on a ranch read more...
Sam Bush
SAM BUSH by Derek Halsey June 2004 Gritz Magazine caught up with Sam Bush at Merlefest 2004, back in April. He took a minute to talk about his first studio read more...
Rickey Medlocke
RICKEY MEDLOCKE by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2004 These days Rickey Medlocke is touring the world as one of the “three guitar army” of Lynyrd Skynyrd, read more...
David Allan Coe
THE ORIGINAL OUTLAW: DAVID ALLAN COE by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2004 Let’s face it, David Allan Coe defies categorization. For three decades, Coe has read more...
Marshall Chapman 2004
TALL Y’ALL: MARSHALL CHAPMAN by Michael Buffalo Smith April 2004 Marshall Chapman has created quite a name for herself in Nashville as one of Music read more...
John Townsend
By Michael Buffalo Smith April 2004 This issue, we have located one of the true great voices of rock and roll, John Townsend, who struck gold during the 1970s with the hit “Smoke from a Distant read more...
Tony Smotherman
Yngwie, Skynyrd and The Queen of England by Levin Sheridan March, 2004 Tony Smotherman is one of the most outstanding of the new breed of guitar slingers. GRITZ caught up with Tony for this read more...
Doug Gray
Searchin’ for a Rainbow Doug Gray of The Marshall Tucker Band by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2004 The Marshall Tucker Band has never stopped rocking since their inception in the early 1970s; there has always read more...
Johnny Sandlin
Johnny Sandlin Southern Producer, Engineer and Musician by Michael Buffalo Smith Spring 2004 You can find his name in the credits of most any Capricorn read more...
Charlie Daniels 2003
The Heart & Soul of Charlie Daniels by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2003 For the cover story of our third print issue in 2003 I called on our old friend Charlie Daniels. Having interviewed him read more...
Richard Young (Kentucky Headhunters)
RICHARD YOUNG: THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2003 For the second part of our Kentucky Headhunters spotlight, we spoke with read more...
Del McCoury
MAN OF THE YEAR: DEL McCOURY By Derek Halsey September 2003 The story of the rise of the Del McCoury Band is an impressive one. These days they are playing before large crowds of young read more...
Freddie Edwards
FREDDIE EDWARDS: THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND by Michael Buffalo Smith August 2003 As one of the two drummers for The Charlie Daniels Band for fourteen years, Fred Edwards was a part of the Southern rock scene during read more...
Jo Jo Billingsley (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
JO JO BILLINGSLEY of LYNYRD SKYNYRD by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2003 As one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Honkettes, Jo Jo Billingsley enjoyed world wide fame, read more...
Larry "L.J." Junstrom
Larry Junstrom Recalls His Days with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Talks About His Band, .38 Special by Scott Greene July 2003
Greg Martin (Kentucky Headhunters)
by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2003 The Kentucky Headhunters are back and in fine form with their new album Soul, a fun-filled romp through Muscle Shoals influenced soul and Memphis flavored r&b. We caught up read more...
Patterson Hood
PATTERSON HOOD of THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2003 The Drive-By Truckers are taking the music world by the short hairs, rocking hard and read more...
Dale Krantz Rossington
Rossington-Collins, The Rossington Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 2003 She may be in the background as a backup singer for Skynyrd now, but there was a time when Dale Krantz was the full-throttle lead read more...
Gary Rossington
GARY ROSSINGTON - THE HEART OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2003
Billy Joe Shaver
ODE TO BILLY JOE - AN INTERVIEW WITH BILLY JOE SHAVER by Derek Halsey Spring 2003 Billy Joe Shaver is one of the best and most prolific songwriters that America has ever produced. He is known to a lot of people for being a huge part read more...
Edwin McCain
by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2002 These days, Edwin McCain is busier than ever, which is somewhat odd considering he just quit the major label Atlantic Records to sign with a small Tennessee indie called read more...
JD Crowe
Bluegrass Legend J.D. Crowe by Derek Halsey December 2002 In 1956, a 15 year old J.D. Crowe came out of Lexington, Kentucky and joined the legendary Jimmy read more...
Tommy Crain
TOMMY CRAIN by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2002 During our first three years on the internet, one question that got asked more often than any other was, read more...
Tom Dowd
From The Manhattan Project to the Allman Brothers Band An Interview with Tom Dowd by Michael Buffalo Smith Fall 2002 Okay. We know that he has produced some of the greatest records in the read more...
Tom Dowd (Part 2)
The last name on my name list is someone that has become kind of a legend in our Southern rock genre. What can you say about Ronnie Van Zant? Ronnie was a gem. Ronnie was a brilliant writer. We spent most of our time together traveling on the road for a day read more...
Jupiter Coyote
Deep Inside The Cosmos Factory Jupiter Coyote Jams by Scott Greene Summer 2002 In our neverending quest to bring you the best the music world has to offer, we are always looking for new and fresh acts to read more...
Don Winters
THEY CALL ME SWEET PAPA DON Papa Don Winters' Last Interview by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2002 Don Winters scored a major country hit as songwriter for The Louvin Brothers back in 1955 with “You’re Running read more...
Ricky Godfrey
OUT OF THE DARKNESS, A BEAUTIFUL LIGHT COMETH Nashville Musician Ricky Godfrey On Garfeel Ruff, The Marshall Tucker Band and Beach Music
Lucky Oceans (Asleep At The Wheel)
Asleep At The Wheel by Derek Halsey July, 2002 Lucky Oceans, along with Ray Benson and Lerroy Preston, were the founding members of the western swing, roots band called Asleep At The Wheel. In this read more...
Blue Mother Tupelo
Ricky and Micol Davis By Derek Halsey July 2002 Blue Mother Tupelo is a blues/rock/roots band out of Tennessee that has as good a thing going as any southern band out there. There are a lot of read more...
Charlie Hayward (The Charlie Daniels Band)
CHARLIE HAYWARD Playing in The Charlie Daniels Band by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2002 Since 1975, Charlie Hayward has held down the bottom for the Charlie read more...
George Lindsey
GEORGE LINDSEY A Chat with Mayberry’s Goober Pyle by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2002 There’s no doubt about it. George Lindsey will read more...
Peanutt Montgomery
Peanutt & The Possum A Visit with Songwriter/Musician Peanutt Montgomery by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2002 When we made our way back down to Alabama for the George Lindsey Film & TV Festival, read more...
Dickey Betts 2002
BLUE SKIES AND TOMBSTONE EYES Dickey Betts and The Great Southern Reunion by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2002
Barry Lee Harwood (Rossington Collins Band)
DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME Barry Lee Harwood On Life After The Rossington Collins Band by Scott Greene May 2002 When the Skynyrd plane went down in the swamps of Mississippi, like so many of you, I thought read more...
John Galvin (Molly Hatchet)
GALVINIZED METAL An Exclusive Interview With Molly Hatchet's Keyboard Wizard John Galvin by Michael Buffalo Smith May 2002 John, were you an original member of Molly Hatchet? read more...
David Holt
David Holt's Folkways and Riverwalk And Working with Doc Watson by Derek Halsey April 2002 David Holt has been a musician, storyteller, and television show host for about thirty years or so. He has put out read more...
Billy C. Farlow
Still Having "Too Much Fun." by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2002 The former lead vocalist of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen is still rocking and singing the blues with read more...
Wayne Moss
ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE DOWN IN TENNESSEE ARE DIGGING BAREFOOT JERRY… An Interview with Wayne Moss By Derek Halsey February 2002 Wayne Moss is a musician who has played in the studio with everyone from Nancy Sinatra to Bob read more...
Dickie Harrell (Gene Vincent)
The Drummer from Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps is Alive and Well in Virginia by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2002 The most exciting rock and roller of the 1950's may have been Elvis, but read more...
Warren Haynes 2002
Goin' Off the Deep End with Warren Haynes by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2002 From his massive body of work with Gov’t Mule and The Allman Brothers Band, to his unforgettable jams as a member of Phil read more...
Alan Walden
Skynyrd, The Allmans and Otis Alan Walden's Career in Rock and Soul by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2002 Anyone who has read anything at all about the history of Southern Music is familiar with read more...
Bob Timmers
Be Boppin' with Nashville Cat Bob Timmers The Founder of The Rockabilly Hall of Fame Divides Time Between The Hall and His Guitar Playing by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2002 He has been my friend since read more...
John McEuen
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Instrumentalist Recalls The Early Days, Duane Allman, Steve Martin and a Lifetime of Music by Derek Halsey January 2002 John McEuen has been in the music read more...
Artimus Pyle 2001
Street Survivor: Artimus Pyle on his friend Allen Woody, the new APB album and life in general by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2001 Hi Artimus. I’d like to begin this second read more...
Taz DiGregorio
Love The Spider Taz DiGregorio On Thirty-Plus and Counting Years in The Charlie Daniels Band and His New Solo Album by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2001 After thirty-one years as a member of The read more...
Lee Bogan
The Good Lord, Family and Friends Lee Bogan Knows What it Takes To Make a Country Hit by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2001 From his years as guitarist for country stars Joe read more...
Leon Russell
STILL PLAYING A SONG FOR YOU Leon Russell On Bangladesh, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and His Hot New Independent Label by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2001 As I dialed up the number, my mind was still busy filtering the read more...
Ray Brand
Our Favorite Brand Alabama Guitar Slinger Ray Brand is Still Rockin' November 2001 In Memory of Ray Brand, who Passed Over in August, 2005, We have established a Memorial Page
David Ball
Checking in with Our Amigo, David Ball by Michael Buffalo Smith November 2001 I can remember seeing David Ball, along with Champ Hood and the late Walter Hyatt as Uncle Walt's Band here in Upstate read more...
Doc Holliday
What’s Up, Doc? Doc Holliday and Bruce Brookshire’s Southern Spirit by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2001 One of the hardest working bands in the lexicon of Southern Rock was and is Doc read more...
Jeff Carlisi (.38 Special)
The Guitarist Talks About 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Big People by Scott Greene October 2001 Jeff Carlisi, Architect? Were it not for a recession, he could be designing buildings instead of crafting guitar read more...
Drive-By Truckers: Keep On Truckin'
KEEP ON TRUCKIN' The Drive-By Truckers Contribute to the New Mythology by Dick Cooper October 2001 BELOW: The building where "Southern Rock Opera" was recorded.
Ed King 2001
Ed King: A Second Helping Waking up to The Strawberry Alarm Clock by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2001 Ed King is a walking rock and roll lesson. From his teenage success with The Strawberry Alarm Clock read more...
Red Dog Campbell
The Original Road Dog Red Dog Campbell’s Thirty-Three Years with The Allman Brothers Band by Michael Buffalo Smith August 2001 He’s the most famous “roadie” on the planet, no read more...
Mack Stevens
"Mr. Texas Heat!" by Ken Burke Summer 2001 Mack Stevens is the heir apparent to the great Rollin' Rock artists of the 70's. A prolific songwriter, his work read more...
Johnny Winter
NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES Johnny Winter in The 21st Century by Michael Buffalo Smith August 2001 Johnny Winter is a legend. Sure, that title gets tossed around in rock and roll like a Frisbee in the park on Sunday, read more...
Stephen Foster
Music, Muscle Shoals and The Mighty Field of Vision by Mitch Lopate August 2001 Warning, reader! The following story is laden with hair-pin turns, dangerous escapes, party-till-you-drop read more...
The Randall Hall Interview
Southern By The Grace of God Randall Hall Stays True to His Southern Rock Roots by Michael Buffalo Smith, July 2001 Lynyrd Skynyrd has showcased some mighty fine musicians over the years, from the original band to the current read more...
Geoff Hanson
Of Pigs and Panic An Interview with Film Maker Geoff Hanson by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2001 Christopher and Geoff Hanson are turning out to be an excellent pair of movie read more...
Charlie Hargrett
From Blackfoot to Black Molly Charlie Hargrett is Still Rocking Hard by Scott Greene January, 2001 One of the best bands to rise to the top during the heyday of great Southern rock read more...
Dru Lombar
Dru Lombar Recalls Grinderswitch, Joe Dan and Southern Rock of the Seventies by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2001 (prior to the reformation of Grinderswitch, the death of Joe Dan Petty and ultimately the death of read more...
Jakson Spires 2001
Jakson Spires: On Blackfoot and The Southern Rock Allstars by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2001 Most people remember Jakson Spires as the hard-working drummer for the heavy Southern Rock band Blackfoot, but these read more...
Charles Hart (Southern Rock Allstars)
Somewhere Between Tokyo and Muscle Shoals Southern Rock Allstars Bassist Charles Hart Speaks by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2001 Where were you born and raised? I was born in read more...
Steve Ripley (The Tractors)
FAST GIRLS AND COUNTRY MUSIC The Steve Ripley/Tractors Interview by Ken Burke June 2001 The 1992 hit "Baby Likes To Rock It" made Steve Ripley and his band The Tractors stars virtually overnight. read more...
Dave Hlubek
Playin’ in The Allstar Band Dave Hlubek Talks About Molly Hatchet, The Southern Rock Allstars and TV by Michael Buffalo Smith May 2001 Dave Hlubek needs no introduction to fans of Southern read more...
Travis Wammack
"SCRATCHY" WAS JUST THE BEGINNING Travis Wammack is Still Rocking May, 2001 by Michael B. Smith We can think of no better introduction to our exclusive interview than the following article from ROLLING read more...
George McCorkle 2001
Checking Back in with George McCorkle Rockin’ Blues on an American Street by Michael Buffalo Smith April 2001 George McCorkle was a founding member of The Marshall Tucker Band and, for the past read more...
Larry Howard
The Southern Rock of Ages Former Grinderswitch guitarist Larry Howard talks about his old band, his friends like The Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker Band and his journey toward a higher calling. by Michael Buffalo read more...
Johnny Neel
From The Allmans to Gov't Mule, Johnny Neel Rocks The Blues with Style by Michael Buffalo Smith April 2001 Where were you born and raised? read more...
Jay Johnson
You Doesn’t Have To Call Me Johnson! Jay Johnson ponders the state of rock and roll and traces his footsteps from Radio Tokyo to The Rossington Band to The Southern Rock Allstars by Michael Buffalo Smith
Van Zant
BROTHERS IN ARMS Donnie and Johnny Van Zant Talk About Their Brother, Their Parents, and Their Second Collaborative Album By Michael B. Smith March, 2001 Perhaps no other name in Southern Rock conjures up as read more...
Sister Hazel
Snapshot of a Band on the Verge Sister Hazel is Ready for Big Time by Julia Mclaughlin & Scott Greene February, 2001 Sister Hazel, from Gainesville, FL, recently released their third CD, read more...
Bobby Ingram
Gypsy Trail Bobby Ingram Carries The Molly Hatchet Torch Into The 21st Century by Michael Buffalo Smith February, 2001
Paul Hornsby
An Ear for Southern Rock Paul Hornsby On Hourglass, Capricorn Records and A Life in Music by Michael Buffalo Smith January, 2001 Paul Hornsby's name is synonymous with Southern Rock, as both musician and producer. The following read more...
Col. Bruce Hampton
THE DADDY OF US ALL Col. Bruce Hampton (ret) Discusses Everything from Andy Griffith to Slingblade to The Aquarium Rescue Unit , Horse Racing and Zambee by Michael B. Smith January, 2001 Col. Bruce read more...
Les Dudek
Les is More Les Dudek on The Allman Brothers, Cher and making movies by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2001 Les Dudek is a much sought after session guitarist due to his talent and versatility. Dudek read more...
Bernard Allison
Across the Water, and Back Again An Interview with Bernard Allison by Michael Buffalo Smith January, 2001 Bernard Allison was born the son of a blues legend, the late Luther Allison, and with eight read more...
Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf)
Looking for Adventure In Whatever Comes Our Way by Mitch Lopate November, 2000 Before becoming one of Nashville's finest session guitarists, Larry Byrom rocked it hard as the axe man for one of rock and roll's read more...
Dickey Betts 2000
BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGINS An Exclusive with Dickey Betts by Michael Buffalo Smith November, 2000 The words, "no introduction is necessary" come immediately to mind as I sit down to write a foreword for the following read more...
Charlie Daniels 2000
Back to Tennessee: Catching Up with Charlie Daniels by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2000 What inspired you to record the songs you recorded for your new album Tailgate Party?
Riff West
Still Jammin' for Danny Joe Riff West's Life in Molly Hatchet, Foghat, White Witch and Service to All Creatures Great and Small by Michael Buffalo Smith October, 2000 Tell us a little about read more...
Jimmy Nalls
The Bionic Blues Man Jimmy Nalls Battles Disease and Keeps On Rockin’ by Michael Buffalo Smith Fall 2000 Jimmy Nalls is read more...
Bobby Whitlock
Layla, and Many Other Songs of Love Bobby Whitlock Talks About Derek & The Dominos, Duane Allman, Gram Parsons, Eric Clapton and more... by Mitch Lopate Winter 2000 I see you released a new album on the read more...
Pete Carr
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE ARE ROCK AND ROLL, AND A HOT CARR... An Interview with Muscle Shoals Guitar Legend, Pete Carr by Michael B. Smith /with Roxanne Crutcher May 2000 Pete Carr, recognized as one of the read more...
Delaney Bramlett
DELANEY, CLAPTON, ALLMAN AND FRIENDS A Conversation with Delaney Bramlett by Mitch Lopate Fall 2000 Be sure to read our read more...
Bill Payne (Little Feat)
All That You Dream Touching Base with Bill Payne of Little Feat by Michael B. Smith Summer, 2000 Bill Payne, an original member of the legendary Little Feat, is a musician in every sense of the word, from his read more...
Mojo Collins
by Michael B. Smith Summer 2000 North Carolina's own Rock, Folk and Blues Legend & Premier Songwriter-Performer and recipient of 1999-2000 North Carolina Arts Council Music Fellowship in Songwriting, Mojo Collins has honed a unique musical talent read more...
Jerry Carrigan
Bama-Lam! Alabama's Drumming Legend by Allen Smith, July 2000 What do Leon Russell, Delbert McClinton, Ronnie Hawkins, and Willie Nelson have in common? How about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and John Denver? Other read more...
Greg T. Walker
Greg T. Walker Recalls Blackfoot and Talks About the Here and Now by Scott Greene July 2000 If you were choosing a rhythm section for a Southern Rock Hall of Fame band, Greg T. Walker would be first off read more...
Danny Chauncey (.38 Special)
Rockin' Into The Night An Interview with Danny Chauncey by Scott Greene (Photos by Michael Buffalo Smith) Summer 2000 What do a Norwegian composer, a Czech read more...
Jimmie Van Zant
COUSIN TO COUSIN Jimmie Van Zant Carries On Ronnie's Tradition with Love and Respect by Scott Greene, June, 2000 When you think of the name Van Zant, the three brothers from the West Side of Jacksonville, Florida read more...
Lonnie Mack
The Guitar Player's Guitar Player Gritz Speaks with Guitar Hero Lonnie Mack by Michael Buffalo Smith (June, 2000) Lonnie Mack is a roadhouse blues-rock legend - modern rock's first true guitar read more...
Eddie Stone
Like a Rolling Stone A Visit with Former Doc Holliday Member, and Current Solo Star, Eddie Stone by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2000 Eddie Stone spent many years playing keyboard and read more...
Chuck Leavell
POUNDING KEYS & HUGGING TREES A Conversation with Chuck Leavell By Michael B. Smith June 2000 What can you say about Chuck Leavell? He is and has been one of the most sought-after keyboard players in rock and roll, read more...
Ace Moreland
KINGSNAKE HAS AN ACE UP THEIR SLEEVE Ace Moreland Remembers Steve Gaines, Talks About The Blues, Recording with Edgar Winter, and His Friend Derek Trucks by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2000 When read more...
Danny O'Keefe
Saving Our Planet: Danny O'Keefe Speaks up for Conservation and Land Stewardship, Feathered Friends & Tuneful Buddies, and Making Music That Has a Purpose. by Mitch Lopate Summer 2000 Danny read more...
Bonnie Bramlett
Don't You Remember You Told Me You Loved Me Baby? A Conversation with Bonnie Bramlett by Jill McLane Smith Summer 2000 From her work with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, to her friendships with a who's-who of '60's and read more...
Dennis Winters
Checking in with Dennis Winters of The Winters Brothers Band by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2000 One question we here at Gritz have been asked time and time again over the past year is read more...
John D. Wyker
Hallucination Verification John Wyker and Mighty Field of Vision by Mitch Lopate 2000 Hallucination verification, John D. "WildCat" Wyker's back on the loose! Actually, it's hard to read more...
Don Barnes
There’s Still Something Special About .38 The Don Barnes Interview by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2000 One of the hardest working bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s, still going strong read more...
Dick Cooper
On and Off the Road with Dick Cooper by Mitch Lopate 2000 Dick Cooper wears many hats: music museum curator, band road manager, free-lance writer and photographer, motorcycle racer, traveler, martial arts disciple and read more...
Gov't Mule
BAD LITTLE DONKEY Gov’t Mule Conquers the World by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2000 Following in the footsteps of bands like The Grateful read more...
Jerry LaCroix
Talkin’ Trash with Jerry LaCroix An Interview with the Former Lead Singer of Edgar Winter’s White Trash by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2000 My wife and I were in Port Arthur, Texas on read more...
Koko Taylor
Praise the Bridge that Carried You Across An Audience with The Queen of the Blues by Michael Buffalo Smith 2000 I understand that Koko is a nickname. How did you come to be called Koko?
Wayne Perkins
THE ULTIMATE ROCK AND ROLL SIDE MAN Wayne Perkins: A Lifetime on Six Strings by Roxane Crutcher December 1999 Wayne, could you give the readers of the interview a brief review of your music read more...
Artimus Pyle 1999
His Tonka Toys Were Real An Exclusive Interview with Artimus Pyle by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1999 He was the second drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd but most fans know him as THE drummer for read more...
Edgar Winter
Winter Wonderland 25 Years After “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride,” Edgar Winter is Still Rockin’ by Michael Buffalo Smith October 1999 From his early, jazz-influenced read more...
Danny Joe Brown
Still Beatin’ the Odds An Exclusive Interview with Danny Joe Brown by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1999 When you talk about Southern Rock legends, one of the names that will always read more...
Barney Barnwell
Barney Barnwell and The Plum Hollow Band Open New Recording Studio Upstate South Carolina by Michael B. Smith Fall, 1999 Just up the road "a piece" in the town of New Prospect, a new read more...
Mike Estes (Brave New South)
Welcome to The Brave New South Mike Estes Talks About His Friend Allen Collins, His Days with Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Brave New South by Michael B. Smith Summer 1999 Born in Kentucky, raised in Ohio and read more...
Ricky Skaggs Returns to His Roots
by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 1999 Ricky Skaggs has finally found his bliss. After years of performing Top 40 Country music, which netted him twelve number one singles and a wall filled with gold and platinum records, eight CMA awards, read more...
Ed King 1999
THE KING OF SOUTHERN ROCK THE ED KING INTERVIEW by Michael Buffalo Smith June 1999 Ed King was one of the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and when the group reunited read more...
Moon Mullins
THE LIFE OF A ROADIE Arthur Mullins Recalls His Days with The Marshall Tucker Band by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 1999 Spartanburg’s Arthur “Moon” Mullins was almost as read more...
Chuck Ruff (Edgar Winter Group)
The Edgar Winter Group, Sammy Hagar, and Being a Rock Star by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 1999 Chuck Ruff may forever be remembered best as the drummer for The Edgar Winter Group, and for his percussion on read more...
Gregg Allman
Midnight Rider An Audience with Gregg Allman by Michael Buffalo Smith Spring 1999 Warren Haynes and Allen Woody had just left The Allman Brothers Band to pursue Gov’t Mule full time, and Jack Pearson read more...
Tony "Smoke" Heatherly
Remembering Toy Caldwell A Conversation with Tony "Smoke" Heatherly by Michael B. Smith March, 1999 Editor's Note: In February, 2000, Blue Hat Records (Charlie Daniels' label) re-released read more...
Chris Hicks
Checking in with Chris Hicks by Michael Buffalo Smith February, 1999 To be so young, Macon, Georgia’s Chris Hicks has been around the Southern Rock block a few times -- and in a big way. As guitarist and read more...
George McCorkle 1998
Lightning in the Air An Interview with George McCorkle by Michael Buffalo Smith June 1998 There truly was “fire on the mountain and lightning in the air” on June 4, 1998 when I caught up with read more...
Jimmy Hall
JUST AS WET AS EVER WET WILLIE FRONTMAN JIMMY HALL by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 1998 When the stage is his, Jimmy Hall, the dynamic, Mobile, Alabama -born singer transforms himself into one righteous medium who melds read more...